self portrait one

Next time, I'll blow the leaves out of the gutters before the rainy season.

Leaf the dress a mess

  As I view Cliff and Nora through the lens, I see a passionate couple that stare, connect, and balance each other so sweetly, the images almost make themselves.      

The year 2008 pushes a recent fad in the wedding photography industry for "trash the dress" photo sessions.    It is a wonderful idea, meant to get another relaxed photoshoot in for the couple, and allowing a release of all the "gotta-be-perfect" energy that much of our culture encourages us to be on this day.     Because of that release, these types of photoshoots radiate with me, and I'd love to do more.    

Blessings to you two and your passionate relationship.   Let me know if you care to have another "mess the dress" shoot with kindergartners and finger paint, changing oil under an old truck with your vail on, or simply gettin' crazy with too much ketchup and mustard.  

 

 

An E-session with Luke

In my prior career, I learned that for teachers, clear Objectives were the best way to share a lesson. As a full time photographer nowadays, I'm finding that they are also the best way to lead an engagement session (and a wedding for that matter).   As of recent and when I begin mine, I'm intent on sharing my three objectives. The first....to document a precious moment in times. The second, to familiarize we three in preparation for the upcoming wedding. The third, to make some amazing images. They're fairly simple and straight-forward, but if you think about them...they help.  

I asked Michelle and Tom to describe themselves, and to come to the shoot ready to be the adjectives they shared with me. Playful and Entranced with each other, this session was a gem. With a bit of champagne, an incredible park, a perfect fall day, and a moment frozen in time, this is an example of just how good life can be.  

Believe it or not,  this romantic chose to propose by building a coffee table with a SECRET drawer, and having her accidentally discover the ring inside on a quiet night.  Their story is nothing short of epic, and it is just beginning.  I'm honored to capture it. 

Enjoy these photos.   In some, you'll see I'm experimenting with off camera flash.    As I progress down a path of painting with light, you're sure to see more of this kind of work.

 

Wide Angled Wonderful

If I was a painter, I'd definitely have my favorite brush.
If I was a chef, I'd definitely have a favorite knife.
I'm a photographer, and.the lens that captured this below is not my favorite, but it is still nothing short of awesome.
Soon enough, you'll know which piece of glass I own is my favorite.
However, can I share with you why I dig it? Read on.

Like a fish eye lens without the fisheye, this 14mm lens makes me get my feet out of the frame often. A bit rare in the wedding photography world, I like it because it gets me out of the box, and thinking REAL BIG often. I use it when I'm in the mood to share everything in the whole scene, if I am in a tight space, or if I'm wanting to get a bit artistic in the shot. Compared to a 35mm standard that many of us see when we had one lens for the rest of my life, this one just might be it because of the "I can see more" factor.

.......enough of the gear head talk. Let's see some cool shots!
Beneath, I'm photographing a really handsome model who's finishing his honey harvesting process, filling up hundreds of jars. I'm just inches away from him. He says he's related to Brad Pitt. Hmmm? Enjoy, and bee well.

Michelle and Jason tie the knot!

These two were as wonderful as it gets.   The night before, pouring rain threatened their outdoor wedding,  but as their day opened up, so did the blue sky.     While watching the best man race for the rings left at home was fun, and exploring a beautiful cake this bride designed herself was awesome, the best moment of the day was simply following these two with a long lens as they took an undisturbed walk in the woods during their first moment as husband and wife.  

  

Focus

Here are a few favorite shots from the recent wedding of Janice and John, of which grabbed the essence of union,  and I'd like to share these examples of what I love to see as a photographer.  

 Let me break them down.   

This first one was taken from a distance as she was preparing for her day.  Calm, collected, and undistracted by the wave of emotion about to come forth, this shot captures her quietly internalizing that the day has come, and she is focusing on saying  "I do"  

This shot, while kinda complex and hard to explain, gains my number one favorite for the day.    When I first look at it, I want to look at the interaction between these two at the alter.  At first, my eye is not comfortable looking at the blurry, and seeks the focused part of the photo.   There.   There's the focus, in the foreground.  With my eyes wanting more,   I'm drawn back to the couple, who share a stare as they relax momentarily out of "the spotlight" (because guests should be paying attention to the words of Dad).   Dang!  I love this shot!

And finally, because I can't leave them with you out of focus...

Reflect Peace.

This morning's news brought up just as much celebration as last night did while I was sipping my coffee and I heard Charlie Gibson refer to President Bush as "The Old President".    Sometimes things trigger us, and I let out a visceral cheer that I had no control of.    Gosh that felt good to hear.   While I've been keeping my beliefs mostly to myself, the last 24 hours has been yanking on my viscera, opening up those moans and groans that are connected to the cord that lets the good tears flow, and I just can't keep it in any more.   WAHOOO! 

I found this piece of artwork a few hours ago,  as it was being explored by numerous neighbors and passers by.   It felt good to see their eyes glimmer too, knowing that many of us can be moved to tears by the sight of a beautiful bus.  I wonder if it was the bus that made us cry.  

My favorite shot is this first, one reflecting peace on another.